November 22, 2025

Of course, Rehoboam forsook the Lord. Did we expect anything different? He was only 24 years old when he began his reign. Could you imagine a person that young running our country? He sowed his oats and paid the price because God sent a massive army from Egypt to teach a lesson. Egypt robbed them of all the treasures in the temple and the king’s house. Rehoboam’s fortifications didn’t hold. According to the marginal notes in Matthew Henry’s Bible, those who didn’t waver in their commitment to God prospered during this time of calamity in their country. Rehoboam repented and turned back to God, and God lifted His hand of wrath from upon them. Rehoboam died at the age of 41. There are several things we can learn from what happened here in 2 Chronicles 12. 

1. God doesn’t leave you until you turn away from him. Always keep your eyes on Him.
2. If you fall but turn back to Him, realize and acknowledge that He was justified in His actions against you. It is to our advantage to admit that God was right in His rebuke.
3. This lesson is my favorite: Those who maintain their commitment to God during times of trouble and wrath will prosper during those times.

Don’t worry about what is going on in the country; stay the course, and at no point turn your back on God. Remain faithful, and you too will prosper during times of trouble. 

And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD. 2 Chronicles 12:14

November 21, 2025

Though I felt sorry for Jeroboam because Rehoboam caused the kingdom to split into the northern and southern kingdoms, I’m now angry with Jeroboam. (Refer to 2 Chronicles 10.) When the land was sectioned off back in the time of Joshua, each tribe was required to give a portion of land to the Levites, who were the priests of the temple and were to provide them with all the necessities, as they were not allotted any land; they were to find their sustenance in God. What were the priests of the northern kingdom to do now that they were separated from the temple at Jerusalem? Jeroboam had set up calves and idols to the devils, and wouldn’t allow the Levite priest to continue in their assigned duty at the temple. So they left their homes and went to Jerusalem to be near the temple, so that they could continue their duty to God. They left the comfort of their homes and all their possessions because it was more important to be free to serve God and even face the possibility of becoming poor than to stay where they were no longer allowed to do their duty to God. They left all they had in pursuit of God. 

What are you hanging onto that prevents you from worshipping God fully? How willing are you to leave everything you have to pursue a relationship with God? You must be willing to leave everything behind to follow Jesus; he taught this lesson himself. God strengthened Rehoboam’s kingdom because all their priests were there. Was God testing the commitment of the Levite priests? It could be.

And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers. 2 Chronicles 11:16

November 20, 2025

The way you treat people matters. Not only should you treat the people over you with kindness and respect, but your subordinates should also receive your due regard and appreciation. After King Solomon died, Rehoboam reigned in his place. However, when Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who had served King Solomon for many years but had fled to Egypt because Solomon placed a heavy burden on him and his people, came to the newly crowned King Rehoboam to plead for mercy and to lighten their burden. Rehoboam sought counsel with the elders, who told him to lighten their load, but when he consulted the younger men, they told him to increase their burden. He took the younger men's advice. The people were shocked by how he was treated, and they left Jerusalem; the ten tribes of the northern kingdom parted ways with Benjamin and Judah and crowned Jeroboam king. Israel was the northern kingdom, and Judah was the southern kingdom. A prophet had told Jeroboam that he would reign over ten tribes, and this is how God brought that prediction to fruition. 

Kindness is essential! You never know how your actions will impact your future. As for Rehoboam, he lost the support of a significant portion of the kingdom, which had likely significantly contributed to Jerusalem's wealth. Also, if things don't seem to be going your way, wait and don't get too bent out of shape; sometimes it is God's plan falling into place.  

And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. 2 Chronicles 10:19

November 19, 2025

The Queen of Sheba came to see King Solomon, bringing many gifts. Knowing what I do about King Solomon and all the wives and concubines he had, I was curious whether he had consummated a relationship with the queen. Of course, the Bible doesn’t mention it; however, if you do a quick search on the internet, you will find historical information concerning their promiscuity. I don’t mean to sensationalize a story, but the information is out there, whether it is accurate or not. The Ethiopians say the Queen of Sheba was from their region and had a son by King Solomon, Menelik I, who later became emperor. However, Jewish historians say it is possible that the queen had a daughter who was an ancestor of Nebuchadnezzar. Whether any of this is true or not, it makes for an interesting story. 

King Solomon reigned in peace for forty years, and died and was buried in the City of David. Why doesn’t the Bible mention any of the sins of Solomon? To answer that question, we must ask ourselves why God doesn’t mention any of our sins. It’s because we, like Solomon, have been forgiven much. Remember, because of Jesus, our sins are forgiven and forgotten. I’m grateful for that. 

Imagine trying to trace Solomon’s lineage; it stresses me out just thinking about it.

 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead. 2 Chronicles 9:31

November 18, 2025

Solomon spent twenty years building the house of the Lord and his home. We sometimes spend years in schools and colleges. Solomon, using his wisdom, didn’t waste time; he got right to work, completing the temple, his home, and building cities. He built a palace for his wife, the daughter of Huram, the Egyptian, because he didn’t think it was proper for her to live in the house of David. After all, it had been a house of great piety. She had converted to the Israelite religion; however, she had people working for her who likely didn’t leave their idolatry behind. Solomon observed all the feasts and holy days of his father, David, and sacrificed the proper offerings as required by the Lord. 

Use the time you have here on earth wisely. When you reach a certain age, you realize how short our lives are, and wasting them by not appreciating all the things God has given us and by not pursuing a relationship with Jesus is a careless use of time. The very best use of our time is honoring Jesus and worshipping the Father. If you need to, wake up a little earlier so that you can begin your day by spending time with Jesus, feeling the movement of the Holy Spirit through songs of worship, and enlightening your mind with the Holy Scriptures.  

And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David unto the house that he had built for her: for he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy, whereunto the ark of the LORD hath come. 2 Chronicles 8:11

November 17, 2025

After Solomon’s prayer to dedicate the temple, fire came down from God and consumed the burnt offerings and sacrifices. Then the glory of the Lord filled the house of the LORD. The people brought their sacrifices, along with the massive amounts that Solomon offered; there were so many that Solomon made the middle court holy so that no sacrifice was turned away. All of this happened during the fall feasts, including the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles. After he sent everyone home, while he was sleeping, God came to him in a dream or night vision and spoke to him about his prayer, the one recorded in 2 Chronicles 6. His answer to this prayer is that famous verse that nearly everyone quotes for the repentance of our nation.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

The turning from our wicked ways is where our country seems to have trouble; not only that, but how can we seek His face when we cannot even turn away from our sinfulness? We must pray for our government and those causing distress in our nation. Individually, we do our best to honor God, but collectively, we depend on those who’ve fallen for their own self-interest, which puts us in quite a predicament. Our best bet is that more people turn to God and follow Jesus; that’s when things will turn around. 

November 16, 2025

Solomon prayed a blessing for the people and then dedicated the temple to God. However, God didn’t need a building to live in because he can exist in the vast darkness. He chose not a particular tribe to reside with, but chose Jerusalem as His place to dwell, particularly the temple that He sanctioned, which was planned by David and built by Solomon. The words Solomon prayed are almost a list of prophetic words concerning the people of Israel that have come to fruition over time. Did the words spoken over them cause them to come true by speaking them into existence, or was it pure prophecy? He was asking God to hear their prayer and intervene should any of the negative things happen, but I can’t help but think his words set the stage for them to come true. I believe we need to be cautious about the things we speak over ourselves, such as negative self-talk. Not only does God hear those words, but the enemy and his cronies also hear them and may try to make your words stick. For this reason, we should avoid any detrimental words and speak only positive things about ourselves and others. Don’t give the devil any ammunition. Keep your words holy, confident, and optimistic. 

O LORD God, turn not away the face of thine anointed: remember the mercies of David thy servant. 2 Chronicles 6:42

November 16, 2025

Part 2 of 2 Chronicles 5

One thing I failed to expand on in yesterday’s devotional for 2 Chronicles 5 was that once the priest had left the holy of holies, they began to sing and play their instruments, worshiping and praising God; that’s when God filled the temple. The room, empty of all the ungodly, and the praise and worship brought Him in. It was the music and singing that brought in the presence of God! Make sure to empty yourself and raise your voice in praise to help usher in the presence of God during your time of devotion; this may be crucial, so don’t miss it. 

It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; 2 Chronicles 5:13